The Force Is Strong With These Star Wars-Themed Sitcom Episodes

CheersEpisode: "Tale of Two Cuties" (6.15)Airdate: January 21, 1988Force Sensitivity: As with most sitcoms pre-2000, Cheers was not strong in the Force. Still, this episode includes one of the earliest instances of a Star Wars reference on a sitcom, when Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) spoils the end of Empire Strikes Back for Woody (Woody Harrelson). Also included is Norm's Darth Vader impression!
[Where to watch Cheers]

Netflix

Full HouseEpisode: "I'm Not D.J." (6.1)Airdate: December 1, 1992Force Sensitivity: This episode is just a Padawan learner, although it's notable for working in a Star Wars reference in the most Full House way possible. After getting her ears pierced without permission, Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) covers up her incriminating ears with big Princess Leia-style side-buns.
[Where to watch Full House]

Everett Collection

NewsRadioEpisode: "Presence" (2.19)Airdate: April 14, 1996Force Sensitivity: This episode isn't Force-sensitive, but it's definitely a Han Solo-style scoundrel. After Jimmy (Stephen Root) loses the station in a poker game, a card counting Lisa (Maura Tierney) deals herself in in an attempt to win it all back. By her side is one of the Boba Fett action figures from the relaunched mid-'90s Star Wars toyline--albeit one with a tiny camera inside of it.
[Where to watch NewsRadio]

Everett Collection

FriendsEpisode: "The One With The Princes Leia Fantasy" (3.1)Airdate: September 19, 1996Force Sensitivity: Long before the fetishization of Leia's slave bikini was called out for being crazy problematic, Friends included it in a classic Ross and Rachel episode. Ross lets Rachel in on one of his fantasies, which ultimately leads to Rachel slipping into the infamous costume. This episode is dangerously strong with the Force.
[Where to watch Friends]

Netflix

The SimpsonsEpisode: "Mayored to the Mob" (10.09)Airdate: December 20, 1998Force Sensitivity: This episode could lift an X-wing out of a swamp. Featuring the voice talent of Mark Hamill, this half hour features Star Wars references aplenty--including a totally unexpected Luke Skywalker/Guys and Dolls mash-up.
[Where to watch The Simpsons]

Everett Collection

That '70s ShowEpisode: "A New Hope" (1.20)Airdate: March 14, 1999Force Sensitivity: The Force is strong with this episode. Any sitcom set in the '70s or '80s has a Star Wars episode in them, and That '70s Show hit theirs at the end of season one. The ep features the entire Forman family and friends in various Star Wars roles as part of a dream sequence. If you've always wanted to see Artoo reduced to a vacuum cleaner, then this is a must watch.
[Where to watch That '70s Show]

Netflix

SpacedEpisode: "Change" (2.2)Airdate: March 2, 2001Force Sensitivity: This episode is full of hate, except in this case hate leads to laughter. We're now post-Phantom Menace on this Star Wars journey, and the tone of this list has changed. In this UK sitcom, co-lead Simon Pegg has a lot of harsh words to say about Jar Jar Binks.
[Where to watch Spaced]

Hulu

ScrubsEpisode: "My Two Dads" (1.5)Airdate: October 23, 2001Force Sensitivity: Like Luke Skywalker seeing his friends tortured in a city in the clouds, J.D. (Zach Braff) also gets visions of what could be! In this episode, that vision is super Star Wars-y as Dr. Kelso and Dr. Cox duel to the death with lightsabers while the rest of the staff watches on in makeshift Rebel getups.
[Where to watch Scrubs]

Hulu

Arrested DevelopmentEpisode: "The Immaculate Election" (2.14)Airdate: March 20, 2005Force Sensitivity: The Force is mild with George Michael (Michael Cera), as evidenced by his performance as Arrested Development's Star Wars Kid. If you want to see Lucille Bluth's (Jessica Walter) famous "go see a Star War" line in context, though, you'll have to jump back a few episodes to "¡Amigos!"
[Where to watch Arrested Development]

Neflix

The OfficeEpisode: "Halloween" (2.5)Airdate: October 18, 2005Force Sensitivity: Of course Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is a Star Wars fan. And of course of course he's a big proponent of the Lords of the Sith. In this Halloween episode, Sith Lord Dwight tries to corrupt Michael Scott as he desperately tries to figure out who to fire. Yeah, this episode has been turned to the Dark Side.
[Where to watch The Office]

Netflix

Family GuyEpisode: "Blue Harvest" (6.1)Airdate: September 23, 2007Force Sensitivity: Family Guy has a veritable Jedi council of episodes spread across its run. Three episodes dive deep into Star Wars canon, lampooning every character in the galaxy. You can follow "Blue Harvest" up with Season 8's "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side" and Season 9's "It's a Trap!" for the full experience.[Where to watch Family Guy]

Netflix

How I Met Your MotherEpisode: "Do I Know You?" (4.1)Airdate: September 22, 2008Force Sensitivity: This one takes the idea of a Star Wars episode to a whole new level. It's not about Star Wars--it's about being a Star Wars fan! When Ted finds out that his new fiancée has never seen Star Wars, he freaks out and wonders if it's grounds for calling off the wedding march.
[Where to watch How I Met Your Mother]

Netflix

30 RockEpisode: "The Funcooker" (3.14)Airdate: March 12, 2009Force Sensitivity: True to 30 Rock's fast-paced and frenetic style, this series is strong with the Force but undisciplined. No one episode of the series goes all-in on Star Wars, although the show notoriously loved its SW Easter eggs. This episode includes the show's most famous reference: Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) dressing up as Princess Leia in a desperate attempt to get out of jury duty.
[Where to watch 30 Rock]

Netflix

FuturamaEpisode: "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" (7.11)Airdate: August 26, 2010Force Sensitivity: Like many Futurama episodes, this one includes a few allusions to George Lucas' sci-fi epic. This time around, the Planet Express crew spends a scene at a comic convention and Leela enters a costume contest while sporting a familiar white dress.
[Where to watch Futurama]

Netflix

CommunityEpisode: "For A Few Paintballs More" (2.24)Airdate: May 12, 2011Force Sensitivity: The second chapter in Community's paintball-palooza is half western and half Star Wars epic. The episode features an opening crawl and Abed (Danny Pudi) doing his best Han Solo (a role he snatched up before Jeff got it by default).
[Where to watch Community]

Hulu

Parks and RecreationEpisode: "Article Two" (5.19)Airdate: April 18, 2013Force Sensitivity: With Star Wars superfan Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) in the cast, Parks and Rec worked in more than its fair share of cosmic shout outs. An entire episode in the final season even hinged upon Ben being too distracted by Episode VII to read the fine print on a contract. This episode, though, creates its own Star Wars mythology thanks to a truly imaginative filibuster from guest star Patton Oswalt. This ep is wise in the ways of the Force.
[Where to watch Parks and Recreation]

Netflix

The Big Bang TheoryEpisode: "The Proton Transmogrification" (7.22)Airdate: May 1, 2014Force Sensitivity: Star Wars referencesmake up roughly a quarter of The Big Bang Theory's dialogue, so it's no surprise that this show is on the list. This episode, however, is set on Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you) and features an appearance by guest star Bob Newhart as a straight up Force ghost. This episode is a Jedi Master.
[Where to watch The Big Bang Theory]

CBS

The GoldbergsEpisode: "A Wrestler Named Goldberg" (1.22)Airdate: May 6, 2014Force Sensitivity: The 1980s-set Goldbergs ascended to Jedi Knight status in its first season. The episode documents Return of the Jedi mania as Erica and Adam Goldberg wrangle with a movie ticket line. This is also the only place you'll find Thomas Lennon decked out in full Hoth gear, complete with tauntaun.
[Where to watch The Goldbergs]

Forty years ago, Star Wars blasted its way onto screens across America—and sitcoms were never the same again! Okay, very few things were the same ever again after Star Wars debuted on this day in 1977. Movies weren’t the same, toys weren’t the same, pop culture wasn’t the same, and yeah, sitcoms weren’t the same either.

Considering how omnipresent Star Wars has been over the last four decades, it’d be crazy if sitcoms didn’t address the most iconic film franchise in history. Sitcoms have paid homage to pretty much everything about Star Wars. Action figures pop up on shelves, families wait in line for movie tickets, characters quote the franchise all the time, and sometimes they even don hair buns or pick up a lightsaber. Sitcoms love making the jump to hyperspace for a little action in a galaxy far, far away, even if it takes an elaborate dream sequence to get there.

Once you’ve finished rewatching the masterpiece that is Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, continue your Force-filled marathon with these sitcom episodes. If you’re a big Star Wars fan, odds are you’ll find more than a few characters to relate to.